Steady growth of European tourist arrivals in Kerala in 2015

Trivandrum: Tourist arrivals from Europe to Kerala have registered a respectable 4.8 per cent increase until October 2015 despite Euro zone recovery losing steam last year. According to press note from Kerala Tourism, a total of 420,247 European travellers arrived in the State between January and October last year compared to 401,063 during 2014 amid many West European countries struggling to protect their economies in the aftermath of the Greek debt crisis and the downturn in China.

More number of tourists continued to arrive in Kerala last year even from countries like Italy, Finland, the Netherlands, Portugal and Germany, whose less than expected economic growth is worrying financial analysts.

“Europe remains the number one traditional market for Kerala while we have been able to create strong markets in several countries abroad along with finding new ones,” said Tourism Minister, Shri A P Anilkumar. “This is evident from the fact that more number of tourists from European countries have visited our State in spite of their economies encountering hurdles in a full recovery.”

The foreign tourist arrivals in the country are expected to register a significant growth this year in the backdrop of the economic slowdown in Europe and in many emerging economies. According to figures, the country has witnessed a growth of 4.5 per cent in foreign tourist arrivals between January and August 15 last year.

The marketing campaign by Kerala Tourism over the years to create a spread of strong markets while continuing to explore new markets has significantly contributed to the state staying away from over dependence on tourists from a particular country.

According to statistics pertaining to 2015, the tourist arrivals from Europe have showed an overall increase across the continent. As many as 125,795 tourists have visited Kerala last year from the United Kingdom, Kerala’s number one market in Europe, as against 119,605 in 2014.

The marketing campaigns by Kerala Tourism along with partners in the tourism and hospitality sector in the State last year in countries like Belgium besides the UK and Germany will prove to be significant in boosting foreign tourist arrivals from Europe in the coming years.